A Taiwanese legislator reaffirmed that Taiwan is an independent nation separate from China during a panel discussion in California.
Prior to the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, Taiwanese Americans in the San Francisco Bay Area organized a rally and community panel on Aug. 10 to advocate for Taiwan’s inclusion in the global organization. The 79th Session of the U.N. General Assembly is set to convene from Sept. 10 to 24 in New York.
Chuang Jui-Hsiung, a Taiwanese legislator, spoke about Taiwan’s exclusion from the U.N. at the panel, criticizing China’s ongoing efforts to hinder Taiwan’s participation in international bodies.
“Taiwan belongs to the world, not China,” emphasized Mr. Chuang, urging Taiwanese Americans to continue pushing for Taiwan’s rightful membership in the United Nations.
Resolution 2758 declared that “the representatives of the Government of the People’s Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations” and called for the removal of the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from all U.N.-related organizations.
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In 1971, Chiang Kai-shek served as the president of the Republic of China, also known as Taiwan.
Resolution 2758 did not address Taiwan’s sovereignty or its representation in the United Nations. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has claimed Taiwan as part of its territory.
Chuang highlighted that Taiwan’s exclusion from the UN is primarily due to the CCP’s efforts to suppress Taiwan’s global presence. He stressed that since becoming a democratic nation in 1996, Taiwan should align with other free and democratic societies rather than authoritarian China. Chuang also emphasized the need for closer ties between Taiwan and the United States and increased international recognition for Taiwan.
John Chu, deputy director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, echoed Chuang’s comments, accusing the CCP of misinterpreting Resolution 2758 to prevent Taiwan from participating in international organizations such as the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and INTERPOL.
Chu pointed out that Taiwanese citizens and journalists are unable to access the United Nations using Taiwanese passports, which he deemed unfair. He reiterated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign state represented solely by a democratically elected government.
John Hsieh, president of the Love of Taiwan Association, shared his decades-long advocacy for Taiwan’s U.N. membership. Despite continuous efforts, the Taiwanese Olympic team was prohibited from displaying their national flag at this year’s opening ceremony in France.
The panel discussion attracted nearly 100 participants from various Taiwanese American organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
